Galloping Geese Reunited Again After 67 Years at the Ridgway Railroad Museum

Well, THAT was fun! This past weekend we volunteered with the Galloping Goose Historical Society for an inaugural event called the "Gathering of the Flock" at the Ridgway Railroad Museum in Ridgway, CO. The Ridgway Railroad Museum has a half mile loop track on a 16 acre site that is perfect for running narrow gauge gasoline-powered railcars like the Galloping Geese. Here's a shot of the railcars queuing up for a parade. From right to left are a Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) Model T inspection car, RGS Motor No. 1, Galloping Goose No. 4, and Galloping Goose No. 5. Galloping Goose No. 6 is out of the picture on the left hand side. The fact is, there were more machines than I could fit into my camera frame which is a very good problem to have! What’s the difference between a Motor and a Galloping Goose? Click here for a brief history of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and the Galloping Geese.

Our group, the Galloping Goose Galloping Historical Society, transported Goose No. 5 from Chama, NM where we’d just finished up a week of excursions on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS). See our post titled, Riding Galloping Goose No. 5 on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is something everyone should do at least once in their lives. Once in Ridgway, we gave nearly 500 passenger rides during the weekend! That’s FOUR TIMES the amount of rides that we typically give during a week of operation on a railroad like the C&TS! People flew in from all over the country to ride these whimsical machines.

Highlights: Galloping Goose No. 4 made a special trip from Telluride, CO and Goose No. 6 came all the way from the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO. This was the first time that the Galloping Geese had been back together in Ridgway, where they were originally built, in nearly 70 years. The weekend was a hoot, and we hope to do it again next year!

Pic of the Day: Galloping Goose No. 5 on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Well THAT was awesome! I volunteer for the Galloping Goose Historical Society, and last week we took 135 passengers for a ride on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The mode of transport was a curious 1930's-era rail bus called the "Galloping Goose" with yours-truly in the motorman's seat. We spent five days motoring the historic narrow gauge rails between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO (a distance of 64 miles). Each day was a little different with tunnels, cliffs, trestles, mountain passes, canyons, steam trains, cattle drives, and wide open country as far as the eye can see. Here's a picture of the Goose pausing beneath the Los Pinos water tank. Now my thoughts turn back to Europe and the Alps. Here at The Cat & The Peacock office, we have French hiking tours to plan, Italian ski/snowboard trips to organize, Swiss cog railways to reserve, and a delightful world of European art, culture and history to explore. As Louis Armstrong used to sing, "And I think to myself, what a wonderful world!”

Riding Galloping Goose No. 5 on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is something everyone should do at least once in their lives.

Chris Pranskatis pauses with Galloping Goose No. 5 at Windy Point on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.

In my spare time, when I’m not sending guests to Europe on bespoke hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding and train tours, I volunteer for the Galloping Goose Historical Society (GGHS) in Dolores, CO. The Galloping Goose Historical Society preserves the legacy of Colorado narrow-gauge railroading at their museum in Dolores, and they maintain and operate Galloping Goose No. 5, a 1930s-era rail bus that I’m absolutely in love with. One of the highlights for GGHS is their annual excursion on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS). The C&TS excursion is OUTSTANDING, and if you’ve never ridden the Goose on the C&TS, then you’re in for a real treat when you do. Here’s what makes riding the Galloping Goose on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad something that everyone should do at least once in their lives. 

1. The scenery takes your breath away.

A special photo excursion powered by steam locomotive No. 463 pulls into the station at Cumbres Pass, elevation 10,022 feet / 3,051 meters.

The Cumbres & Toltec is the longest and highest narrow gauge steam railway in North America, and riding the C&TS is one of the last truly authentic “Old West” experiences that a person can have in the United States. The line was built in 1880 as part of a much larger railroad network owned by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway Company (D&RG). When the D&RG, (later named the Denver & Rio Grande Western), abandoned its narrow gauge lines in 1969, a group of rail enthusiasts stepped in to save the most scenic parts. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is one of those scenic gems.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad boasts an outstanding diversity of landscapes, from the sage brush plains of Antonito, CO, to the spruce-fir forests of Cumbres Pass.

The C&TS travels 64 miles (one way) between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO, and during its journey the railroad crosses the New Mexico/Colorado border 11 times. The diversity of the landscape along the route is breathtaking, from the lava fields and sagebrush plains of Antonito, to the glacial moraines and spruce/fir forests of Cumbres Pass, elevation 10,022 feet / 3,051 meters. During its journey, the railroad passes over trestles, through tunnels, along cliff faces and past ghostly rock formations.

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is 64 miles long. Passengers love the expansive views of the New Mexico and Colorado high country from the back of Galloping Goose No. 5.

The place names recount the region’s history—names like Phantom Curve, Rock Tunnel, Lava Tank, Whiplash Curve, Tanglefoot Curve, Windy Point and Hangman’s Trestle (also known as Ferguson’s Trestle), named for a Mr. Ferguson from Antonito, CO who local townsfolk hung from the trestle for an unknown crime in the 1880’s. One of the highlights of the journey is the famous Toltec Gorge, a seemingly inaccessible chasm forged from ancient precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks millions of years ago. The gorge is only accessible by foot or rail, and it’s a 600-foot drop from the airy ledge of the railroad grade to the Los Pinos River bottom below.

Galloping Goose No. 5 enters Rock Tunnel. In the background is an overlook into the Toltec Gorge and the famous Garfield Monument, erected following President James A. Garfield’s assassination in 1881.

In addition to phenomenal mountain scenery, historic structures dot the landscape surrounding the railroad, from 1880’s-era hand-hewn bunk houses, to one of the last remaining wooden coaling towers in existence in the United States.

Galloping Goose No. 5 parks above timberline next to the coal dock at historic Osier Station, elevation 9,637 feet / 2,937 meters. Passengers enjoy a filling lunch at Osier before continuing to Chama, NM or Antonito, CO.

Yet the region remains surprisingly unpopulated and unspoiled. Deer and elk nibble on grasses in the old train yards, eagles soar overhead, and big horn sheep lock horns while railcars full of passengers amble by.

Exiting Mud Tunnel. The 342-foot tunnel penetrates soft, weathered volcanic ash and mud of the Conejos Formation. The tunnel is lined with timber because of the soft rock and mud.

It’s no wonder that so many movies were filmed on the C&TS. Indiana Jones enjoyed the scenery of this railroad, and you will too!

2. The Goose is the center of the action.

Galloping Goose No. 5 rubbing elbows with Locomotive No. 463 in Chama, NM.

The Galloping Goose is not a regularly scheduled train on the railroad. The Goose is a guest on the railroad, so to speak, so in railroad terminology the Goose is referred to as an “Extra.” When the Goose runs on the C&TS it flies white flags out front to announce its status, and its call sign on the radio is “Extra RGS Motor 5.” This status as an Extra is important for passengers because it allows the Goose to behave differently than the regularly scheduled passenger trains. Whereas the regularly scheduled trains have to keep moving from Point A to Point B, the Goose has permission to stop and grab photos, pause for a bathroom break, shoot video, or watch the steam trains huff and puff around the mountain curves.

Galloping Goose passengers enjoyed a rare treat on this fall day as restored Locomotive No. 315 stopped for water at Osier Station.

That doesn’t mean that the Goose doesn’t have to follow rules! It certainly does, but the Goose has extra flexibility that allows its passengers to do really fun things. In short, while the passenger trains deliver their riders across the mountain passes according to a set schedule, the Goose zips back and forth taking in all the action. And some days are busy! It’s not unusual to see passenger trains, work trains and special excursion trains on the line at the same time while the Goose zooms around between them.

This Goose is always at the center of the action. In this photo, Galloping Goose No. 5 waits for a special “Fireman-Engineer School Train” to cruise across Cumbres Pass on a cool September afternoon.

On past excursions we’ve also walked through tunnels, explored old dynamite caches, reenacted historic-looking photos, and peered off the edge of the mysterious Toltec Gorge.

On one occasion, while I was volunteering, we stopped on Windy Point to watch a double-header chugging up the hill behind us. Seeing a double-header is worth extra points in the rail fan world, and it happens when two locomotives join together to provide extra power on a train. Looking down on the double-header from our vantage point above, watching the smoke and steam and hearing the whistle as the train labored against a four percent grade, was an experience that only passengers in the Goose were able to enjoy that day.

Sometimes Goose passengers get so close to the action that they can’t even fit the entire scene in their cameras. Note the second locomotive on the far left side. Goose passengers watched this double-header power up the four percent grade from Chama, NM.

Don’t get me wrong. Riding the train is awesome. Ride it, definitely! But, rest assured, you’ll have a completely different and memorable experience when you grab a seat on “Extra RGS Motor 5” (Galloping Goose).

3. The view from the cab of the Galloping Goose is an exclusive experience.

Looking over the motorman’s shoulder on Goose No. 5 is a once in a lifetime experience.

Let’s be clear. Riding in the cab of a steam locomotive is a really cool thing to do. Everyone should do it at least once if they get a chance. That said, space is often limited for steam locomotive cab rides and tickets aren’t always available. By contrast, every passenger that rides in the Galloping Goose gets to sit up front in the cab with the motorman if they so desire. Every wiggle in the track, every precipitous curve, every tunnel entry and elevated canyon crossing becomes camera fodder for the passenger that choses to ride up front. Passengers in the cab also learn a lot about railroading as they listen to radio chatter from the railroad dispatcher. Passengers also get to watch the motorman work his way around the horn, bell, sanders, flangers, gears, brakes and lights.

4. The atmosphere and views in the rear of the Goose can’t be beat.

Panoramic views of New Mexico and Colorado are the norm when you ride Galloping Goose No. 5. This is the stretch between Osier and Antonito.

The front and the back of the Goose are not connected by a passageway. However, the Goose frequently stops for photos, so guests are able and encouraged to swap seats between the front and the back. The back of the Goose holds about 20 passengers, so it’s a comfortable, but not crowded, experience.

The aspen forests between Osier and Antonito are a real joy to behold on a sunny fall afternoon. This is the view from the rear of Galloping Goose No. 5.

Large panoramic windows with removable panes allow passengers to drink in the views and fresh mountain air, while a cozy wood stove in the rear takes the edge off on chilly fall afternoons. There’s also a concession stand in the back. Passengers have access to water, sodas, snacks, and all sorts of merchandise from hoodie sweatshirts to pint glasses and books. There’s usually a historian or docent on board as well to share stories about the Goose and the railroad. My favorite part about the rear, however, is the view out the back. On a golden fall afternoon, the view is priceless.

This is the view from the back door as Galloping Goose No. 5 climbs away from the Chama River Valley toward Cumbres Pass.

5. You won’t find anything like Goose No. 5 anywhere else in the world.

Galloping Goose No. 5 pauses for a photo stop at Windy Point.

You won’t find anything like the Galloping Goose anywhere else in the world. The Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) built seven of these Geese in the 1930s. The railroad called them “Motors” originally, and they were cobbled together from spare parts which meant that no two Motors were exactly alike. The very first contraption was called Motor No. 1, and it was built as an experiment in 1931. Motors No. 2-7 were built shortly thereafter and ran on the Rio Grande Southern until the railroad’s abandonment in 1952.

Galloping Goose No. 5 pauses for a routine brake-check before tackling the four percent grade off Cumbres Pass.

The Motors were whimsical machines, and people that saw them nicknamed them “Galloping Geese” because of their waddling gait and somewhat birdlike appearance and sounds. The railroad didn’t appreciate the term Galloping Goose, but they finally acquiesced in 1950 and started marketing sightseeing excursions by “Galloping Goose.” Sadly, the tourism effort was too little and too late. By 1952 the RGS tracks were torn up, the machinery sold off, and the Galloping Geese were left to rot in parks and abandoned fields.

Galloping Goose No. 5 rests next to the coal dock at historic Osier Station. Behind the Goose is an old toll road which dates to 1874.

In 1997-98 an ambitious group of volunteers from the Galloping Goose Historical Society pulled Galloping Goose No. 5 out of the weeds and restored her to operating condition. In May 1998 Goose No. 5 made her first run in almost 47 years on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. It’s worth noting that all of the original Geese, (except No. 1), still exist and run today. Galloping Geese No. 2, 6 and 7 live at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO. Goose No. 3 lives at Knott’s Berry Farm in California. No. 4 lives in Telluride, CO, and Goose No. 5 spends her days at the Galloping Goose Historical Society Museum in Dolores, CO. Motor No. 1 was dismantled long ago, but its spirit lives on in the form of an accurate replica that you can visit and ride at the Ridgway Railroad Museum in Ridgway, CO.

Galloping Goose No. 5 passes the Cresco water tank, elevation 9,193 feet / 2,802 meters. The Cresco tank was built in 1893.

Of all the Geese, Goose, No. 5 is the ONLY Goose that runs frequently on historic working railroads. Other Geese get out for special events and occasions, and some of them have a short loop track for stretching their wings, but Galloping Goose No. 5 is the only Goose that reliably runs every year on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and also on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (another awesome railroad that I’ll write about about in future posts). In short, Goose No. 5 is special, and her quirky style and whimsical design make her truly one of a kind.

Never too shy for a photo, Goose No. 5 struts her stuff during an afternoon run to Antonito, CO.

The placement of the lights, the inconsistent angles and lines, the recognizable color scheme and the characteristic ticking and whirring of the engine make the Goose an absolute pleasure to behold. Whether you’re a train-lover, an artist, a car fanatic, or simply someone who loves quirky things, you’re in for a real treat if you ride Goose No. 5 on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. For myself, I love machines, mountains and adventure, and Goose No. 5 ticks all of those boxes and more. Riding Galloping Goose No. 5 on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is vastly different from any other rail excursion I’ve ever experienced, and that’s a very good thing. If you’ve never ridden Galloping Goose No. 5 on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, then do it now! Riding the Galloping Goose is an experience that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

Would you like to ride Galloping Goose No. 5? How about a scenic train tour in Europe? I can help!